Why Aluminum Tariffs Are Reshaping Global Metal Flows

Episode 35 of The Commodities Economy examines the ripple effects of rising aluminum tariffs in mid-2026. Lucas and Luna explore how the 25 percent tariff on imported aluminum is disrupting supply chains from Canada to the Middle East, boosting premiums for US-produced metal while crushing margins for Midwest manufacturers. With LME aluminum prices sliding 6 percent in the past month but US physical premiums hitting 45 cents per pound, the episode unpacks the growing split between exchange-traded and physical markets. They discuss why smelters in the Pacific Northwest are restarting idled capacity, why automotive and beverage-can buyers are stockpiling, and whether the tariff regime is creating a permanent two-tier market. Anchored to June 6, 2026 data, the conversation draws on the 4.3 percent drop in copper futures and the broader commodities selloff as context. No clickbait, just a clear look at how trade policy meets industrial reality. #AluminumTariffs #CommoditiesEconomy #BaseMetals #TradePolicy #SupplyChain #USManufacturing #LME #Smelting #TariffImpact #IndustrialMetals #MidwestManufacturing #Aluminum #Premiums #GlobalTrade #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast #Economics #Fexingo Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo